St. Joseph Hospital is a values-based Catholic health care provider with a tradition of and commitment to excellence, based on the vision of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. The hospital's strong belief in the intrinsic dignity of each person commits it to be a just employer to its 3,800 employees; to provide healthcare for the whole person, body, mind and spirit; and to collaborate with the 1,000-member medical staff and other health care providers to increase access to quality health care.

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As an awarding-winning medical group, we offer a diverse group of physicians that represent the finest primary care programs available. Our physicians value the relationship they have with each of their patients and encourage each patient to play an active role in disease prevention and management.

St. Joseph Hospital is committed to building a healthy partnership between you and your doctor. By encouraging you to take an active role in your own wellness, we work together so you get the most from your healthcare experience.

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Heart and Vascular Center

Activity after Surgery

Once you are awake and the breathing tube is removed, you will be sitting in a chair for all three meals.

You will also be given an Incentive Spirometer, a small, hand-held device used to measure how well you are filling your lungs. The Incentive Spirometer also encourages you to circulate air in your lungs. You should use the Incentive Spirometer 10 times every hour while awake. This helps improve breathing and prevents an infection in your lungs. Deep breathing and coughing are also important to remove any leftover fluids out of the lungs. You will be given a heart pillow to splint your chest area while coughing or deep breathing. This helps to decrease pain and allows the sternal bone to heal.

Pain

Pain is something that can’t be avoided with open-heart surgery, but it can be alleviated by various techniques including:

Medication

Using a heart pillow to splint the chest area when coughing, deep breathing or more

Relaxation techniques

Pain is an individual experience for each patient. In order to alleviate pain it takes communication and teamwork between the patient and the clinical staff.

Transfer Out of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

Once you are stable and the lines in your neck and wrist have been removed, you will be transferred to the Telemetry Unit located on the fourth floor of the hospital. You will have more independence while on the Telemetry Unit, which will prepare you to return home.

Telemetry Unit Visiting Hours

Visiting hours on the Telemetry Unit are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please limit visitors to two at a time and make visits short. You need rest in preparation to return home.

Walking

Once on the Telemetry Unit you will be expected to start walking in the hallway three times a day until discharge. The first couple of walks should be with the nurse. As the nurse feels appropriate you will be allowed to walk independently in the halls.

Breathing Exercises

While on the Telemetry Unit, you will continue using the Inventive Spirometer and continue deep breathing exercises with the heart pillow.

Pain

Pain will decrease as time passes. If the pain is not being controlled please let the nurse or physician know.